Nut hulling and washing unit



July 4, 1939. w. c. ANDERSON 2,164,372

NUT HUIJIJING AND WASHING UNIT Filed Dec. 13, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 s Q: -az

INVENTOR W Chas. Anderson ly 4, 1939- w. c. ANDERSON 2,

NUT HUI-LING AND WASHING UNIT Filed Dec. 15, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 14 C has. Anderson BY Q0? .M

ATTORN EY July 4, 1939. w. c. ANDERSON NUT HULLING AND WASHING UNIT Filed Dec. 13, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTO R N EY Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE NUT HULLING AND WASHING UNIT W, Charles Anderson, Linden, Calif.

Application December 13, 1937, Serial No. 179,514

16 Claims.

This invention relates to walnut hullers, my principal object being to provide an apparatus of this general character in which the hulling mechanism is directly connected to and is in effect a part of a washing device, so that a very compact and self-contained unit is provided.

This unit is especially designed for the use of those having relatively small orchards the crop of which while of sufficient volume to warrant the use of a machine for hulling,- does not warrant the expense of a large machine.

The machine of this application has good capacity, will do excellent work, is portable and compact, and it has few moving and wearing parts to give trouble.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and inexpensive device and yet one which will be exceedingly eifective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved hulling and washing unit.

Figure 2 is a feed-end view of the same.

Figure 3 is a discharge-end view of the unit.

Figure 4 is an enlarged foreshortened sectional elevation of the apparatus.

Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the unit comprises a rectangular horizontal base frame I, having uprights 2 at its corners which support a relatively long cylindrical casing 3 which is set on a downward slope from the feed to the discharge end of the unit.

The lower end of the casing is rigidly secured to a headplate 4, which is solid except for a segmental opening 5 at the bottom. The: head plate 5 at the upper end of the casing is slidable within the casing and is secured inside the casing by brackets 1 to an inner disc or hulling plate 8, also slidable in the casing.

A segment of the plate 8 is cut away at the top, the sloping sides and bottom of a hopper 9 following the contour of and fitting within the side and bottom edges respectively of the cut away portion of the plate. The hopper is mounted rigid with the plate 8 so as to be movable therewith, and the hopper is arranged so as to feed inwardly of said plate 8. It will of course be understood that the casing is cut away at the top to receive the adjacent downwardly projecting portion of the hopper.

This plate, except for a certain portion adjacent its center, is provided with a plurality of radial slots ll], of sufficient width to permit of the passage of hull pieces, but of insufiicient width to pass whole nuts.

The plate and hopper unit is mounted for longitudinally adjustable movement in the casing by means of bolts I mounted in the brackets l and passing through longitudinal slots I2 in the casing, as well as by bolts |3 mounted in other brackets I4 secured on the sides of the hopper and overhanging the adjacent portion of the casing, said bolts passing through longitudinal slots H5 in the casing.

Mounted on the front of the plates 4 and 8 centrally thereof are ball bearings [6 which support a drive shaft IT. This shaft is driven at a suitable speed from an electric motor l8 mounted on the head plate 4 above the shaft.

Disposed in the casing concentric therewith and extending from adjacent the head plate 4 to adjacent the rear end of the hopper 9 is a washing cylinder l9, provided throughout its extent with closely spaced longitudinal slots 20, substantially the same size as slots in. The cylinder is open at its rear endand is secured on the shaft by a spider 2|. Adjacent its forward end a disc22 is secured in the cylinder, said disc being solid except for a centralopening 23 having an arm 24 extending thereacross to provide a connection with the shaft. This disc, besides serving as a mounting for the forward end of the washing cylinder, also forms a backing for a circular brush. The brush as here shown, is of the same type as described in my copending application, Serial No. 141,594, filed May 10, 1937, and comprises forwardly projecting steel bristles 25, terminating in spaced relation to the plate 8. Fixed on the plate 8 is a. collar 26, the lower part of which is slotted, and which slidably laps the adjacent end of the cylinder 19 in front of disc 22, as shown in Fig. 4, so that the space between plate 8 and the brush forms a nut retaining chamber 21. Entrance to this chamber is by way of the hopper, while the exit therefrom (for nuts) is the brush-surrounded central opening 23 in the disc 22.

Disposed against the inner face of the hulling plate 8 is a nut diverting bar 28. This bar includes an outer substantially straight portion merging into a curving portion which extends partially about the plate intermediate its center and periphery and in the same direction as that in which the brush rotates to a termination adjacent the plane of the periphery of opening 23, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. The spacing between the inner edge of this bar and the tips of the bristles is less than the diameter of an unhulled nut.

The bar is adjustably mounted in place on the hulling plate in any suitable manner, such as by studs 29 on the bar projecting'through certain slots ID in the hulling plate and having nuts 30 on their outer ends engaging the outer face of the plate.

In order to wash the nuts being tumbled about in the washing cylinder, I provide a water spray pipe 3! which extends lengthwise of the cylinder and casing outside the latter and to one side of the bottom. center of the same.

The bottom portion of the casing is cut awa 7 for substantially its full length as shown at 32 to allow hulls to drop clear of the device from the slots 20 in the washing cylinder and also to allow water from the row of jet openings 33 in the pipe to spray into the cylinder. Another water nozzle member 34 is connected to the main water supply pipe 35. in position todischarge into the chamber 21 adjacent the bottom and against the brush.

A swinging door 36 for opening 5 is mounted between the head plate 4 and the adjacent end of the washing cylinder for movement about the axis of the cylinder.

A handle 31 is mounted on the door for manipulating the same, and releasable catch means 38 between the handle and plate 4 enables the door to be held in any position. In this manner, the effective size of the discharge opening 5 may be altered at will to control the volume of nuts discharged.

In operation, the nuts tobe hulled are dumpe into the hopper 9, where they are initially caught by the adjacent straight portion of the bar 28, which normally lies along the bottom of the hopper. With the rotation of the brush in the direction of the curved portion of the diverter bar, the nuts are rolled about and swept around the chamber in contact with the bar and slotted hulling plate.

As a result of this abrasive action, the hulls are broken away from the nuts, some. of the hull pieces being forced through the slots l and some dropping through the slots in collar 26. Due to the curving of the diverter bar, the nuts as they are rolled around and hulled are gradually passed inside the curved portion of the bar, and are diverted by said bar toward the central opening 23 in the brush disc, through which the nuts, to gether with some hulls, finally pass into the washing cylinder.

The position of the diverter bar relative to the point of intake of the nuts into the hulling chamber determines the time the nuts will be subjected to the hulling action of the brush before being discharged into the washing cylinder.

The diverter bar as shown in Fig. is set for the maximum nut retaining action. If the bar is shifted to the left (or in a direction opposite to that of the rotation of the brush) while maintaining the bar symmetrical relative to the axis of the hulling plate, the nut retaining and hulling time will be decreased. This is because the nuts from the hopper have a shorter circular or curved path to traverse before reaching the inner end of the bar. By adjusting the position of the bar therefore, the huller may be set to properly hull nuts without either lack of efiiciency or undue waste of time, according to the particular type or condition of the nuts being acted on.

The nuts and some hulls passing into the washing cylinder are subjected to the washing action of the sprays as well as to a tumbling action. This causes all hulls, if any pieces are still adhering to the nuts, to be positively freed therefrom, and to be separated from the nuts, by dropping through slots 20 before the nuts reach the discharge opening 5.

It will be noted that a portion of the brush is always exposed to and practically forms the back of the hopper. This is an important and valuable feature, since it keeps the nuts as delivered to the hopper in motion, and makes a self-feeding device giving a uniform flow into the hulling chamber.

The base I at its front end is supported on jack screws 39, so that the tilt of the washing cylinder may be altered at will. In this manner, and in combination with the adjustable door 36, the vol- 'ume of nuts retained in the cylinder, and their time of retention, may be varied to obtain variations in the degree of the washing and rubbing action.

It should also be noted that instead of the steel bristle brush, I may use the rubber brush shown in my copending application Serial No. 179,512, filed December 13, 1937.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A nut huller comprising a substantially vertical hulling plate, a rotary hulling brush parallel to and spaced from the plate, said brush having a central opening, means forming a nut retaining chamber between the brush and plate, means to feed nuts into said chamber, and means on the plate within the chamber to engage and gradually divert the nuts in the chamber radially inward and toward the brush opening as the nuts are moved about the chamber with the rotation of the brush.

2. A structure as in claim 1, with a foraminous washing cylinder beyond and mounted as a unit with the brush and into which the central opening thereof delivers.

3. A nut huller comprising a substantially vertical hulling plate having openings for the dis charge of hulls, a rotary hulling brush parallel to and spaced from the plate, said brush having a central opening, means forming a nut retaining chamber between the brush and plate, a hopper to feed nuts into the chamber at a point in front of and below the top of the brush and a diverter bar mounted on the plate within the chamber and comprising an initial portion extending transversely of the hopper below the forward bottom edge of the same, and a further portion curving about the plate in the direction of rotation of the brush to a termination adjacent the periphera plane of the brush opening. a

4. A structure as in claim 2, with means mounting the bar on the plate for adjustment about the same whereby to alter the position of said initial portion of the bar relative to the hopper, said means comprising studs on the bar reinovably projecting through certain ones of the plate openings and clamping nuts on the studs outwardly of the plate.

5. A nut huller comprising a substantially vertical hulling plate, a rotary hulling brush parallel to and spaced from the plate, said brush having a central opening, means forming a nut retaining chamber between the brush and plate, a hopper to feed nuts into the chamber at a point in front of and below the top of the brush and fixed with the plate, means on the plate within the chamber to cause nuts engaged and moved about the chamber by the brush to be gradually diverted toward and into said brush opening, and means mounting the plate and hopper for adjusting movement as a unit toward and from the brush.

6. A nut huller comprising a substantially vertical hulling plate, a rotary hulling brush parallel to and spaced from the plate, said brush having a central opening, a cylindrical member in which the brush is fixed, a collar on the plate extending toward and lapping the adjacent end of said member to form a nut retaining chamber therewith, means to feed nuts into the chamber in front of the brush, and means on the plate within the chamber to cause nuts engaged and moved about the chamber by the brush to be gradually diverted toward and into the central brush opening.

7. A nut huller comprising a substantially vertical hulling plate, a rotary hulling brush parallel to and spaced from the plate, said brush having a central opening, a cylindrical member in which the brush is fixed, a collar on the plate extending toward and lapping the adjacent end of said member to form a nut retaining chamber therewith, a hopper fixed with the plate to feed nuts into the chamber in front of the brush, means functioning with the rotation of the brush to cause nuts engaged and moved about the chamber by the brush to be gradually moved toward and finally discharged through the brush opening, a fixed casing about the chamber and plate, brackets on the plate engaging the inside of the casing brackets on the hopper engaging the outside of the casing, and bolts adjustably clamping all said brackets and the casing together.

8. A structure as in claim 1, Witha foraminous washing cylinder beyond and mounted as a unit with the brush and into which the central opening thereof delivers, and a fixed cylindrical casing about said washing cylinder from end to end and having an opening along the bottom for the discharge of hulls from the cylinder and an opening in its rear end for the discharge of nuts: from within the cylinder.

9. A nut hulling and washing unit comprising a substantially horizontal casing having a head plate at one end, a slotted hulling plate mounted in the casing adjacent its opposite end, shaft bearings in said plates centrally thereof, a shaft turnable in the bearings, a washing cylinder about the shaft open at one end to the head plate, the latter having an opening at the bottom communicating with the interior of the cylinder, a spider connecting the cylinder at said open end to the shaft, a disc in the cylinder adjacent its opposite end spaced from the hulling plate, said disc being secured on the shaft and having a central opening for the passage of nuts, a brush projecting forwardly from said disc about the opening therein, means including the adjacent portion of the cylinder forming a nut retaining chamber about and between the brush and hulling plate, means to feed nuts into the chamber in front of the brush, and means on the hulling plate within the chamber to cause nuts engaged and moved about the chamber by the brush to be gradually diverted toward and finally discharged through the central opening and into the washing cylinder. I

10. A structure as in claim 1, with a foraminous washing cylinder beyond and mounted as a unit with the brush and into which the central opening thereof delivers, said cylinder being open at its end opposite the brush for the discharge of nuts, a central shaft extending through the cylinder and connected to the brush and to the cylinder adjacent its open end, and a drive motor operatively connected to the shaft adjacent said open end of the cylinder.

11. A structure as in claim 1, with a foraminous washing cylinder beyond and mounted as a unit with the brush and into which the central opening thereof delivers, said cylinder being open at its end opposite the brush for the discharge of nuts, a central shaft extending through the cylinder and connected to the brush and to the cylinder adjacent its open end, a bearing for said shaft in the hulling plate, another fixed bearing for the shaft beyond the open end of the cylinder, and a drive motor connected to the shaft adjacent said fixed bearing.

12. A structure as in claim 1, with a foraminous Washing cylinder beyond and mounted as a unit with the brush and into which the central opening thereof delivers, said cylinder being open at its end opposite the brush for the discharge of nuts, a central shaft extending through the cylinder and connected to the brush and to the cylinder adjacent its open end, a fixed casing about the cylinder and hulling plate and in which the latter is mounted, a. bearing for the shaft in the hulling plate, another bearing for the shaft in the casing adjacent the open end of the cylinder and a drive motor connected to one end of the shaft.

13. In a nut huller, a slotted hulling plate, a rotary brush unit parallel to and spaced from the plate, means forming a nut retaining enclosure between the plate and brush, means to feed nuts into the chamber at a point radially inward of the outer periphery of the brush, there being a discharge opening from said chamber centrally of the brush, a diverter bar in the chamber and arranged relative to the point of feed of the nuts to cause the nuts as engaged and moved about the chamber by the brush to be gradually diverted toward said discharge opening, and to be retained within the chamber for different periods with a given speed of rotation of the brush de pending on the position of the bar relative to the point of feed, and means mounting the bar on the plate for adjustment to alter such position of the bar.

14. In a combination nut hulling and washing unit, a substantially horizontal foraminous rotary washing cylinder having an opening at one end for the discharge of washed nuts, 2. hulling brush having a back plate fixed with and covering the opposite end of the cylinder, the brush facing away from the cylinder, the brush and its back plate having an opening therethrough for the delivery of hulled nuts into the cylinder, and a hulling mechanism of which the brush forms a part and including means arranged to feed the nuts as hulled through the brush opening.

15. A structure as in claim 14 with a fixed cylindrical casing about the washing cylinder from end to end, said casing having an opening along the bottom for the discharge of hulls from the cylinder.

16. A structure as in claim 14, with a central shaft extending through the cylinder and connected to the back plate of the brush and to the cylinder adjacent its nut discharge end, and a drive motor operatively connected to the shaft adjacent said discharge end of the cylinder.

W. CHARLES ANDERSON. 

